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Ross ended his year on a very special high after being presented with two of Scotland’s most prestigious motorsport awards.

He was completely taken by surprise when he heard his name called out at last night’s Scottish Motor Racing Club’s Gala (1 December), held at the Sheraton Hotel in Edinburgh.

Ross had barely recovered from his delight at being presented with the Knockhill Circuit’s Young Saloon Car Driver of the Year accolades when he was invited to return to the stage in front of over 400 guests.

“It was completely unexpected,” he said. “The great and good of Scottish racing were there and I was expecting (British Touring Car Champion) Gordon Shedden to win the hub cap, so I was really shocked. To have my name on the trophy is great!”

The trophy, a wheel spinner from the 1956 Le Mans 24 Hour race-winning Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar D-type, is presented annually to an up-and-coming young driver who has started their career in Scotland and shown terrific potential. Previous winners have included Allan McNish, David Coulthard, Dario Franchitti and Paul Di Resta.

“It is a huge honour to receive the Ecurie Ecosse Hub Cap award, especially when you see who the previous recipients have been. It is also humbling to know that it is my motor racing heroes and peers who have deemed me worthy of this award,” Ross added.

“Having been chosen by Volkswagen to race in their Scirocco R-Cup next year was just fantastic, but to be also hailed as the Knockhill Young Saloon Car Driver of the Year and one of Scotland’s up and coming stars is the icing on the cake. I fully intend to repay their faith when I race in Germany next year and through every season after that. I’m filled with enthusiasm for next year!”

The price of such success, however, has left Ross with a dilemma, as he explains: “Ryan Dalziel has invited me over to America to be on the grid with him at the Rolex Daytona 24 Hour race in January. Unfortunately, that coincides with the Get Race Fit event at the Porsche Human Performance Centre at Silverstone with Red Bull F1’s Mark Webber. I met him at last year and he was really impressed with my fitness, so it would be great to see him again and see how far I’ve progressed. But then, the Daytona 24 Hours is a legendary race and the chance to hang out with Ryan and see how a world champion goes about his business would be amazing.”